Book Clubs

A great selection for book clubs is Richard B. Wright’s Clara Callan — the Modern Classic Edition — and here’s a Reading Group Guide to get you started.

Questions for Discussion

1. Clara Callan takes the form of letters and journal entries. Why did the author choose to write an epistolary novel instead of a straight narrative? What advantages and disadvantages does this writing tool provide? How would the book change if he hadn’t taken this route? Does it help to illuminate any underlying themes?

2. Richard B. Wright has been widely praised for his convincing portrayal of his female protagonist. Do you agree or not? Why?

3. Discuss Clara’s sudden lack of belief in God. Is this loss of faith really significant in her life? Explain.

4. Discuss the significance of “The House on Chestnut Street.” What are the parallels between the radio show and Clara’s and Nora’s own lives?

5. On more than one occasion, Clara’s letters contradict what she writes in her journal. Does she lie to herself, or to her correspondents? Why would she do this? Do you consider her a trustworthy narrator?

6. How does Clara deal with change throughout the book?

7. The three main female characters in Clara Callan — Clara, Nora, and Evelyn — lead personal lives that stand out from the norms of the time. How does defying social conventions affect each character?

8. What would you say is Clara’s greatest fear? How do her actions throughout the book point to this?

9. Discuss Clara’s difficulties with communication.

10. Like those of a Jane Austen heroine, Clara’s observations about the time and place in which she lived are vivid, atmospheric, and often humorous. What is your favourite anecdote from the book?